Mock Draft

26Apr

By Carlton Cabey

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck QB Stanford

Luck’s name has been in that slot for 2 years now. The only unknown was the team. How lucky is the Colts organization to go from Peyton Manning to Andrew Luck. Sure he’ll take some bumps but this guy looks just as good as advertised and even better.

2. Washington Redskins(from STL): Robert Griffin III QB Baylor

The Redskins moved made the big trade with the Rams to move up and get the 2nd pick. Only time will tell if they gave up too much for him but you definitely have to like his upside. He has all the intangibles to someday be the best quarterback in the league.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil OT USC

The Vikings were impressed enough with Christian Ponder to not want a quarterback early this year. They have Harvin and this draft is deep with wide receivers so no need to go Blackmon here which is why I went with Kalil. You will be able to plug him in and he’ll be a elite and possibly even a pro bowler his rookie year

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson RB Alabama

I’m not a big fan of drafting running backs this high or even in the first round for that matter, but Richardson is elite. He will contribute a lot and early and be very much in the running for offensive rookie of the year. With the departure of Hilllis the Browns have a need and it will help getting Colt McCoy more weapons.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne CB LSU

The Bucs would love to get Richardson but Claiborne is the best cornerback in the league. Though he is not as good as his ex teammate Patrick Peterson he’s still very good and can develop into a shutdown corner.

6. St. Louis Rams(from Washington): Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma State

Blackmon seems like the perfect fit for the Rams. They desperately need a number 1 option for Sam Bradford and though Blackmon isn’t elite he’s still very good and will be a great target for Bradford. He doesn’t have great speed but can break tackles to get a lot of yards after the catch. He is also good at getting himself open

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Floyd WR Notre Dame T

he jags drafted Blaine Gabbert last year and he really struggled last year mostly because he wasn’t ready, however it didn’t help that he didn’t have a go to receiver to help bail him out of trouble. I like Floyd a lot some even like him more than Blackmon. While I’m not sure I’d go that far I think he’s going to be a very good pro and he can stay out of trouble in Jacksonville

8. Miami Dolphins: DE Quinton Coples DE UNC

General Manager Jeff Ireland is on the hot seat more than any GM coming into the season. He badly needs to have a great draft. He would love to trade down and pick up an extra 2nd. I know they need a QB and Tannehill seems like a good fit but I have a hard time believing that he’s the 8th player on their board. Also he’s the QB that OC Mike Sherman moved to WR early in his career and then was the QB when Sherman was fired so I don’t see him endorsing Tannehill a lot. There’s no denying Coples talent if he’s willing to play hard. Some of the same things were said about Mario Williams Dolphins hope to strike gold.

9. Carolina Panthers: Fletcher Cox DT Mississippi State

The Panthers can use some more beef on the defensive line and I think Cox is a great fit for them. He will contribute immediately and really help their overall defense out. If their defense can stay healthy with the addition of Cox the Panthers may be in the playoffs contention late in the season

10. Buffalo Bills: Melvin Ingram DE/OLB South Carolina

Adding Ingram to that defense would be scary. Ingram has a great motor and was very productive last season. If not for his size and short arms he’d not only go higher but probably be viewed by many as the best defensive player in the draft. Ingram’s best strength is his versatility and expects the Bills to move him all around the defense and he will make plays.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Ryan Tannehill QB Texas A&M

The Chiefs have Cassel but he’s not a franchise quarterback. Tannehill isn’t ready yet but I think with two years of seasoning he will be a very good quarterback. He has elite footwork and is familiar with a west coast offense.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Luke Kuechly LB Boston College

Kuechly is a tackling machine with a high IQ. He has the potential to be the best defensive player in this draft. He was all over the field making plays even with team’s game planning against him. He would boost Seattle’s linebacking core from day 1

13. Arizona Cardinals: David DeCastro OG Stanford

DeCastro is by far the best guard in this draft and he can probably play any position on the line other than left tackle. He’s athletic and can pull. The Cardinals can use some help on their offensive line and you can make an argument DeCastro is just as good an offensive guard to come out in the last 5 years

14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron S Alabama

Barron is the best safety in the draft this year. He’s no Eric Berry or Earl Thomas but still very good. Jerry Jones has upgraded the Cowboys secondary by signing free agent Brandon Carr and Barron will be a very solid

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Riley Reiff OT Iowa

The Eagles can use help on the defensive line as well but Jason Peters is out for the season and Reiff can be plugged in at right tackle. Some say he his arms are too short but I feel he will be able to play the position and with the pass rushers in their division plus Vick having injury history you can never have too many offensive lineman

16.New York Jets: Dontari Poe DT Memphis

No player was more impressive than Poe in the combine. However when you look at his tape and match his stats and combine that with the level of competition he should have been much more dominant. Its possible Rex Ryan can get him to reach his full potential and that is scary.

Some think Gilmore is the best corner in the draft. He has speed and can move to safety if he has to. He has to be develop being a natural corner he lets his athleticism make a lot of his plays in college and he won’t be able to do that in the pros.

18. San Diego Chargers: Cordy Glenn OT/G Georgia

Glenn can play either tackle or guard which makes this pick so intriguing. He’s a great run blocker and Matthews really came on at the end of last season. Glenn comes from blocking against the SEC and is tied for the Georgia career record in starts

19. Chicago bears: Whitney Mercilus DE Illinois

The Bears get to keep this hometown stud at home. He would be a great compliment on the other side of Julius Peppers. You can’t deny his production getting to the quarterback in college and would be great value for the Bears here.

20. Tennessee Titans: Dre Kirkpatrick CB Alabama

The Titans need a player to replace Courtland Finnegan and Kirkpatrick would be a great pick here. He’s a physical corner that plays similar to Finnegan and will can be a leader for the team defense as well

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Jonathan Martin OT Stanford

I was tempted to put a running back with this pick but giving the value going down for the position I got them going with Martin. He can help on the right side and can eventually protect Dalton’s blind side.

22. Cleveland Browns: Brandon Weeden QB Oklahoma State

This is a bit of a surprise pick but giving the demand for the position players that play quarterback get drafted higher than they usually would. If Weeden were 22 or 23 he would most likely be a top 10 pick. He is already mature and could possibly even beat out McCoy for the starting position next year.

23. Detroit Lions: Courtney Upshaw LB Alabama

The Lions would love to get one of the cornerbacks here but I don’t have any available. Upshaw is a player where he doesn’t have a certain position but you can move him around and have him play multiple positions

24. Pittsburg Steelers: Dont’a Hightower LB Alabama

Hightower is a perfect fit for LeBeau’s scheme. He played on an Alabama team his freshman year which is not easy giving the talent of that team. He will play right away and be in an already strong locker room

25. Denver Broncos: Michael Brockers DT LSU

Brockers is an athletic defensive tackle with a lot of potential. He will be a great addition to a defensive line that already has Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller. Brockers has to become a little more consistent but once he does he can be dominant

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright WR Baylor

Wright didn’t time as fast as many thought but he plays a lot faster than his timed speed. He’s a slot receiver and will be a great compliment to Andre Johnson. He has consistent hands and will be a reliable option for Shaub

27. New England patriots: Shea McClellin LB Bosie State

McClellin is athletic and can play either inside or outside linebacker. Belichick will have fun moving him around and creating mismatches for his on this defense

28. Green Bay Packers: Nick Perry DE USC

Last time the Packers got a pass rusher late in the 1st round it worked out really well for them. Now I’m not trying to compare Nick Perry to Claw Matthews but I think he will be one of the steals of the first round. Perry has great size and speed and can get to the quarterback and you can never have enough of those players.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz C Wisconsin

Konz is a great player here for the Ravens. He can play either guard or center and expect him to possible play guard for the first season then take over for Matt Birk later on. He can really help an offensive line that struggled during the playoffs last year

30. San Francisco 49ers: Stephen Hill WR Georgia Tech

I know the 49ers signed Randy Moss but I’m not buying him being very productive. He took a year off and wasn’t very productive the last year he played. Hill comes out of that wacky triple option offense so his route running isn’t great but he can develop into a great receiver

31. New England Patriots: Harrison Smith S Notre Dame

The patriots were often hurt by not having a good safety on to play aside Patrick Chung after cutting Merriweather. Smith isn’t the most athletic safety but he’s a sure tackler and will be very productive on this Patriots defense

32. New York Giants: Lavonte David LB Nebraska

The Giants can go a number of directions here. Colby Fleener would be a good pick as well as Lamar Miller. I have them taking David however an athletic linebacker who makes plays all over the field.